Three Ceremonies, Still Unmarked

After seeing off every guest at the ceremony by myself, I returned home.

Erin was lying weakly on the bed, the moonstone on her finger giving off a painfully bright gleam.

When she noticed me looking at it, she instinctively curled her fingers inward and glanced at me timidly.

“Bella, I thought this ring was mine, so I put it on without thinking. Then I realized I couldn't get it off.”

“I panicked and fainted. Did I ruin your ceremony again?”

This wasn't the first time she had suddenly fallen ill.

Ten days ago, Theodore and I had gone to try on our ceremonial clothes, and Erin injured her leg.

Three days ago, Theodore and I went camping, and Erin ate something that disagreed with her and vomited until her face went pale.

And today, just as our mating ceremony was about to begin, something had happened to her again.

“Can you give it back to me now?”

My voice was calm, but Erin's eyes immediately reddened.

With tears in her eyes, she gripped the ring and tried to force it off.

But the more anxious she became, the harder her fingers trembled. She tried several times without success.

Theodore pressed her hand down, his brows drawing together.

“If it won't come off, leave it. Don't hurt yourself.”

I said nothing. I stood in the corner, absently touching my bare finger.

Years of waiting, and all he had to say was, “Leave it.”

That was the moonstone engagement ring Theodore had given me when we were young.

Back then, the Evernight Pack had been in grave danger, and my father had reached out to Theodore's father.

He provided supplies and warriors, helping them defeat the invading wolves.

To repay my father's kindness, Theodore's father proposed a marriage alliance between our families.

I had thought it would be nothing more than a political match. But after that, Theodore began reaching out to me often, sharing every little detail of his life.

He even ventured alone into the Northern Forest and climbed its most dangerous peak, all so our mating bond could receive the Moon Goddess's blessing.

He went there to find the finest moonstone and craft a one-of-a-kind ring for me himself.

He nearly lost his life on that journey.

With every letter and everything he did for me, I began to fall for him too.

I could barely contain my excitement. I counted down the days, waiting for the moment we would finally be reunited.

But what I ended up waiting for was my father's sudden death.

He had barely been buried when the wolves who had once coveted the Alpha position came after my mother and me.

My mother fled with me through the night toward the edge of our pack territory, trying to protect me, only to have a silver arrow pierce her heart.

As she lay dying, she pressed the bloodstained ring into my hand and gave me one final instruction.

“Go to Theodore. Become his mate. He'll protect you and make you happy.”

And now, the ring my mother had given her life to protect had been casually handed to another she-wolf by Theodore himself.

At that thought, I still couldn't bring myself to let it go. I wanted to fight for myself one last time.

“Theodore, that's my engagement ring…”

Before I could finish, Theodore's mother cut me off sharply.

“Enough! Do you have to bring that up in front of Erin and embarrass her?”

“She just lost her mate and hasn't even recovered yet. Can't you show her a little compassion?”

Theodore's father gave an unhappy cough and agreed with her.

“Bella, if your parents were still alive, they wouldn't want you making a fuss over something like this either.”

I clenched my fists and remembered the day Theodore first brought me into this house.

His parents had pulled me tightly into their arms, their eyes red as they made me a promise.

“Bella, we'll never forget what your parents did for us.”

“From now on, this is your home. We will never let you suffer here.”

But now, whenever Erin wanted something, I was the one they expected to give way.

Erin bit her lower lip and spoke softly.

“This is my fault. Even if I have to cut off my finger, I'll get the ring off.”

She picked up a knife and moved as if she were about to cut into her own hand.

Just as the blade was about to touch her skin, Theodore snatched it away.

Then he turned to me, his eyes filled with reproach.

“It's just an old ring. When did you become so petty?”

But all I wanted was to take back something that belonged to me.

Ever since his brother Ethan died, I had already done everything I could to take care of Erin. Yet Theodore always expected more.

I cooked breakfast for Erin myself. If she didn't want to eat it, that somehow meant I still wasn't thoughtful enough.

He would leave me waiting alone until late at night because he wanted to keep Erin company, and I wasn't supposed to complain.

Even when I gave Erin my own bedroom and moved into the attic myself, I still didn't earn a single word of understanding from him.

I gave way again and again, only to become the petty one in his eyes.

When I remained silent, Theodore's tone softened slightly.

“In a few days, I'll ask the best designer in the pack to create an even better one for you.”

Just like he used to, he reached out to wrap an arm around my shoulders.

I stepped aside and said quietly, “There's no need.”

His hand froze in midair.

I continued, “Let Erin keep the ring.”

He stared at me for a moment before a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

“That's more like it. You're going to be my Luna. You should be more generous.”

I didn't argue. I simply turned and walked away.

He thought I had finally given in.

What he didn't know was that I had already booked a ticket to leave the Evernight Pack tomorrow night.

I would no longer be part of his future.